I always have a fogginess that hits me like a huge tidal wave come 5-7p EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL!!! So I usually give in and nap. After friends repeatingly ask what I sleep at bought, and I answer 2-4 hours, they all tell me how unhealthy and horrible that is and I need to change.

Well it doesn't feel good and I don't like giving into this daytime sleep, so ok, I'll keep an open mind-

My best friend and roommate has sleep apnea really bad and went for a sleep study. He was asking the doc all about my tidal wave of fatigue. He also asked the doc how many sleep studies he has done and what's the success rate? He also told the doctor I'm an incredibly light sleeper (I am) and asked his recommendation.

The doctor told him that he's done over 2,000 studies, and only 3 people haven't fallen asleep. Mostly because they have Split Shift Sleep Disorder.

So he asked the doc what causes that?

Doc said it affects a very small percentage of workers that have to or had to work varied shifts whether in retail, a casino, etc.

My friend says I've worked in a supermarket for over 16 years with these shifts and is that what I probably have?

Doctor says it sounds likely. And the recommended cure from the doctor, GO CAMPING FOR 10 DAYS!This allows you to get up with daylight and go to bed at sundown and over 10 days adapt to this set schedule.

Fuck, I can't take off that time for work. Even in summer, I can't get any fruebd's to go with me for 10 days! Maybe a weekend? I know nothing about being outdoors camping for so long solo. I just don't know....

So I decided, fuck it! I pretty much have to kill my habit 10 days in a row without taking a nap, then continue on. I'm game for that!!! Camping seemed to just be a good complimentary way to do that. I don't think it's 100% necessary!

So, I've been going for walks when that the hits, a few times around my housing development. Not going to lie, I can lay down on the sidewalk or someone's grass and pass right the guck out immediately! That's how strong this urge is! I just have to keep training myself and fighting through it, and tell myself it'll be easier after 10 straight days.

Well today was day 4. I have a cold as well which isn't helping my energy levels. But to hell with it, I'm all in on this cause I KNOW my sleeping has been ducked for YEARS and it is an important part of health. I'm fighting really hard, and it's not easy, but I think I can do this!!!

Fixing a fucked up sleep schedule is insanely difficult. The camping thing is great and does work wonders, but most of us can't afford to take 10 days off work.

What I've found that helps is ear plugs if your a light sleeper. (I also work graves so there is a lot more noise when I sleep)

But it is possible you just have to keep at it, I know that nap is damn tempting. I'd also suggest trying to get a bit more exercise when it was normally nap time. Walking is great but throw in something a bit more vigorous to get the blood really flowing.

Rwn wrote:Fixing a fucked up sleep schedule is insanely difficult. The camping thing is great and does work wonders, but most of us can't afford to take 10 days off work.

What I've found that helps is ear plugs if your a light sleeper. (I also work graves so there is a lot more noise when I sleep)

But it is possible you just have to keep at it, I know that nap is damn tempting. I'd also suggest trying to get a bit more exercise when it was normally nap time. Walking is great but throw in something a bit more vigorous to get the blood really flowing.

I'm about to go for a brisk walk/jog now. Thanks for the advice. It makes sense. I'm out of shape/overweight so I have to start light. It's not so much about how I start, as much as it is that I start. As a wise ninja once said, doing anything is lapping anyone still on the couch

People actually used to sleep in shifts of 4ish hours. What changed that? Pretty much the industrial revolution... It's actually NOT unhealthy at all. You can manipulate your sleep cycle though and be just fine, especially if you have to work odd hours. I would also recommend ear plugs... holy shit what a great nights sleep I get with ear plugs in. Ear plugs and a dark room work wonders. Sleep however you need to, but try and get at least 6 hours straight of REM. Also, smoke pot.

Ha! That last part used to knock me out instantly. But when I stopped to try and reset my tolerance years ago, I started back up, and just felt super paranoid. So I stopped doing it altogether.

I'd NEVER get a straight 6 hours aside from weekends. My routine was 530-7 or 8p, then 2a-530. While maybe it isn't considered healthy, it leaves me feeling sluggish and with little energy throughout my day. Plus it's hard to get work done like that now that I have an actual steady hour day-job with a SHITLOAD of take home work - mostly grading papers.

I'll tell you what though, jogging made me feel GREAT! Since I don't exercise much, it felt wonderful knowing I just slaughtered my last 6 months with a nice walk/jog combo. While I couldn't jog for too long, a start is a start, and moreover, it felt great. It really woke me up about 10 minutes after I got back home too. I think that will be my key to success - exercising when that tidal wave of fatigue hits.

Check out the 7 minute workout app. It's something I've started. Takes a few minutes and gives you quite a workout. I started doing it at work since I tend to crash hard at like 0430 this has turned that around quite a bit.

And stay away from things like caffeine to keep you up, it will be your downfall in the end.

I had a 13 hr workday today. Sooooooooo tired at a reasonable 10p now. Either this no nap thing is working or I was distracted by work.

Tomorrow I'll be too distracted by the Panic at the Disco concert I'm going to. I'll be so pumped from going to the concert I prob won't even feel my usual wave of fatigue! Or so I hope. Seriously tho, I'm not AS tired around that time now that it's nearing a week since I've napped.

After about 2 1/2 weeks of not taking naps, im finally getting tired before midnight. Its definitely an improvement, but I know I cant stop or it will just keep cycling into that naptime of day.

now instead of getting really tired between 530-7, I get it between 8-10 and I just go with it. sometimes during the day i'll feel lit, but it goes away after a wlak or something, so thats what ive been doing to normalize my sleep.

Now im getting more solid sleep at night, still usually 5-7 hours, but im not waking up from every little thing. its a more solid sleep, which makes sense since the naps arent robbing me of true rem sleep.

the first 2 weeks were the hardest, now its getting a little easier each day to not nap at that time.

Rivoc wrote:I was born at 203am, November 10. The whole split thing didn't start until my 10th year of working varied retail hours.

I read a theroy that our natural clock is determined at time of birth. I know I was born at 6:28 AM and I either wake up at 3:30 am or 6-7ish. I have had a couple or 16 hrs on 8 hrs off jobs (2 days a week full time pay and benefits) and I used sublingual melatonin to get right to sleep when I got home.

One thing that I noticed has improved my sleep a little: Vitamin D! I don't really like being outdoors much. When I read about getting enough Vitamin D for sleep I was intrigued.They say that you should get a daily dose of sunshine until you are almost starting to sunburn (your skin starts to get flushed and slightly pink.)Let the sunlight touch as much skin as possible. The time varies. For example, I take about 20 minutes to start feeling sunburned, so my ideal daily dose is around 15 minutes.

Since I started doing this I have been feeling a lot healthier in general, and that's gotta contributes to better sleep.

My own sleeping is kinda messed up. Just look how often I am around here at Ninja. This no job thing, got me all kinds of messed up.

I am thinking of using sleeping medication to help me achieve the dream of sleeping through the night. Maybe then I can wake up at 6 and go to bed around 10, like I used to. Not this stay up half the night bullshit, and feel like crap all the time, type of sleep I have been getting the past month or two.

Rivoc wrote:I was born at 203am, November 10. The whole split thing didn't start until my 10th year of working varied retail hours.

I read a theroy that our natural clock is determined at time of birth. I know I was born at 6:28 AM and I either wake up at 3:30 am or 6-7ish. I have had a couple or 16 hrs on 8 hrs off jobs (2 days a week full time pay and benefits) and I used sublingual melatonin to get right to sleep when I got home.

That sounds very interesting. I know there is a lot more to the time we enter this world as it relates to us growing into who we are - moreso than most people give credit to. Scorpio main personality traits describe me so well, its freaky. ive met other scorpios who are SO SIMILAR to me down to the same favorite obscure fruit (red plums ftw!!!).

Im sure there are a bunch of studies and articles proving so. im not much of a researcher, but astrology, stars, our planet, its crazy how they can all relate to each other in some instances. Constellations are really interesting too. Ive gone out with a telescope in some college activities for astrology. its really interesting to hear good professors talk about some of the mystics of our universe and how they relate to our planet. Its so big out there... Im always wondering whats going to be the next discovery.